A classic silent film from 1928, by Carl Theodore Dreyer. Generally claimed to have one of the greatest filmed performances ever, given by Maria Falconetti. Her prior work was in light stage comedies and she never made another film.

[[UsefulNotes/PatronSaints Joan]] [[UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc of Arc]] is put on trial by the English. They attempt to get her to back down from her claims of holy visions. She refuses, and is eventually [[BurnTheWitch burned at the stake]].

You can find it on Website/YouTube, but if you can, shell out the cash for the DVD or seek it out on cable. The current version is only 82 minutes, but be sure to mark out two full hours on your PDA; odds are [[HeroicBSOD you'll need some quiet time after]].-----!!This film provides examples of:

* AcquittedTooLate: In real life, Joan was found innocent...25 years after she was convicted and burned alive. * BeautyEqualsGoodness: Joan is very pretty in a innocent sort of way, while her tormentors are often downright repulsive.* BeingGoodSucks: Boy, does it ever.* BookDumb: Joan can't read and needs help signing her "confession".* BuryMeNotOnTheLonePrairie: Joan pleads for her body to be buried on consecrated ground. In real life, her ashes were thrown in a river. * BurnTheWitch!: Joan's ultimate fate.* BreakTheCutie: Penultimate example. * CorruptChurch: The Bishop of Beauvais. Averted by several of the Priests, who try to help her.* DisturbedDoves: Joan watches the birds fly off from the church roof as she is being burned. * DutchAngle* FaceDeathWithDignity: Joan's attitude towards being burned. * {{Fainting}}: Joan faints when shown the brutal torture instruments intended to extract her confession.* FragileFlower: Joan herself. * FamousLastWords: Joan cries out "Jesus" when a monk holds a crucifix in her view as she is being burned. * FreakierThanFiction: This film was saved from complete oblivion by a spare copy kept in a closet in a Norwegian insane asylum. How strange is that? * FromBadToWorse: Joan's situation. * GoodCopBadCop: In this case, good monk/bad monk, used in her interrogation. * GoodEyesEvilEyes: Joan has shiny, beatific GrayEyes throughout the entire film.* GoodIsImpotent: Joan is powerless to prevent her fate throughout the film.* TheHeroDies* HornedHairdo: One of the judges squeezes his hair into two points.* IDieFree: Joan's death.* KangarooCourt: Joan's trial. * KillTheCutie: Joan's death.* LastPlaceYouLook: The original negative was destroyed in a fire, and Dreyer died in 1968 thinking it was lost forever. Fast forward to 1981, when a nearly pristine copy was discovered in a closet in a Norwegian insane asylum of all places. What's more, it was delicate nitrate stock in a sealed can; if whoever discovered it had opened it up when they found it instead of calling in experts, it likely would have literally gone up in smoke then and there.* TheLateMiddleAges* LimaSyndrome: Not enough to save Joan's life though. * LockedInTheDungeon: Joan's imprisonment.* JeanneDArchetype: Joan of Arc is the UrExample, but this film, by itself, [[SubvertedTrope does not show the trope.]] Instead, it's more like a {{Deconstruction}} PlayedForDrama -- after breaking the laws of man in the name of God, the brilliant and brave visionary girl is captured by the enemy, nearly broken by interrogation, and finally, brutally executed. * MessianicArchetype: The movie is [[PassionPlay ''The Passion of Joan of Arc'']] for a reason. Many scenes in the film echo Literature/TheBible, from questioning by [[CorruptChurch religous authorities]] to the English soldiers dressing Joan in a "thorny crown."* MissionFromGod: What Joan believes herself to be on. * NotSoStoic: Even one of the guards weeps to see Joan burned. * [[OneBookAuthor One Film Actor]]: Lead actress Maria Falconetti came from the stage first to act in ''La Comtesse de Somerive'' and then deliver one of cinema's most celebrated performances, then quit the film industry.* PublicExecution* PrayerPose: Joan, upon receiving communion. * SecurityCling: Not quite a cling, but Joan tries to hold the hand of a priest while suffering a fever. He pulls it away.* ShamedByAMob: The people witnessing Joan's execution weep in sympathy, and a riot breaks out when one shouts "You have burned a saint!"* ShownTheirWork: The dialogue is all the actual court records of what Joan of Arc is known to have said at her trial. She's amazing.* SingleTear: One of the monks cries a single tear when Joan recants her confession, as he knows it will lead to her death.* SpitefulSpit: One of the church officials spits on Joan during her trial. * TearsOfFear: Nearly constant on part of Joan during the movie.* TearsOfRemorse: Joan, after signing her confession, which she then recants. * TraumaticHaircut: Joan's hair is cropped to stubble on-camera. It counts as a real-life example too, as Falconetti apparently begged Dreyer not to have to do it.* VillainRespect: By the end, it is clear that some of the clergy are rather impressed with her courage and are feeling at least some sympathy for her.* WaifProphet: Joan herself. * WallSlump: Joan slumps when she's being burned. * WholesomeCrossdresser: Joan herself, who wears men's clothes. She is grilled about it. * YouCantGoHomeAgain: It's not stated in the dialogue -- it's all in Joan's face when the priest asks her who taught her how to say her prayers, and she answers, "My mother."